Self-Reported Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviour in Dutch Older Adults Living Independently.

Marjolein Visser,Laura A Schaap,Hanneke A H Wijnhoven

doi:10.3390/nu12123708

Abstract

The aim was to explore the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and physical activity behaviour in Dutch older adults and to identify subgroups most susceptible to this impact. Participants (N = 1119, aged 62–98 y, 52.8% female) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam living independently completed a COVID-19 questionnaire. Questions on diagnosis, quarantine and hospitalization were asked, as well as impact of the pandemic on ten nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Associations of pre-COVID-19 assessed characteristics (age, sex, region, household composition, self-rated health, BMI, physical activity, functional limitations) with reported impact were tested using logistic regression analyses. About half of the sample (48.3–54.3%) reported a decrease in physical activity and exercise due to the pandemic. An impact on nutritional behaviour predisposing to overnutrition (e.g., snacking more) was reported by 20.3–32.4%. In contrast, 6.9–15.1% reported an impact on behaviour predisposing to undernutrition (e.g., skipping warm meals). Those who had been in quarantine (n = 123) more often reported a negative impact. Subgroups with higher risk of impact could be identified. This study shows a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and physical activity behaviour of many older adults, which may increase their risk of malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia and disability.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic and the public health measures related to COVID-19, such as social distancing, will likely have an impact on lifestyle behaviour
The median duration of the quarantine was 21 days (N = 106). Women and those with more functional limitations before the COVID-19 pandemic reported more often to have been in quarantine
With regard to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition behaviour, the impact was more frequently reported for behaviour changes contributing to overnutrition as compared to behaviour changes contributing to undernutrition

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and the public health measures related to COVID-19, such as social distancing, will likely have an impact on lifestyle behaviour. Recent studies show that the COVID-19 pandemic is often associated with eating more, more snacking behaviour, more alcohol consumption but less binge drinking, more sedentary behaviour and body weight gain in adults [3,4,5,6,7]. It is hypothesized that older adults are more susceptible to a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle as compared to younger adults [9,10,11,12]. Social isolation as a result of public health measures such as social distancing and limiting social gatherings may decrease physical activity and decrease food intake due to lower food availability.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion